Specialist mutual Dudley Building Society has sliced up to 1.30 percentage points off a suite of mortgages and, for the first time, extended its residential range to applicants on the UK Skilled Worker visa, MoneyAge reports. The move—announced on 3 February 2026—comes amid a rebound in inward corporate assignments following last year’s tightening of salary thresholds and dependants’ rules. (moneyage.co.uk)
Key highlights include a two-year fixed-rate at 4.90 % for borrowers with 80 % loan-to-value (LTV) and a five-year buy-to-let product at 5.15 % for British expatriates and foreign nationals. Importantly, the lender will accept overseas income verified through UK bank transfers, easing friction for assignees paid partly in sterling and partly in local currency. (moneyage.co.uk)
For HR and mobility managers navigating these changes, VisaHQ’s dedicated UK portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) offers step-by-step guidance and document-checking services for Skilled Worker visas and extensions, ensuring employees meet the 12-month validity window lenders like Dudley now require.
![Mortgage lender launches dedicated products for skilled-worker visa holders]()
Why does this matter for global mobility teams? Until recently, assignees often struggled to secure mainstream credit because many banks treated temporary work visas as ‘high risk’. By pricing Skilled Worker borrowers on the same grid as permanent-residence applicants, Dudley signals growing confidence in the stability of the UK’s sponsored-worker route. The products could also make the UK a more attractive destination for talent by lowering housing-cost barriers, especially outside London where 80 % LTV loans are common.
Employers should update their relocation packs: staff will need at least 12 months’ visa validity remaining at completion and a UK bank account receiving salary. Dudley will also require proof of continuous employment with a licensed sponsor and evidence that the worker intends to apply for extensions when due. Brokers expect rival building societies to follow suit, increasing competition in a niche worth an estimated £3 billion a year.
For now, the products are broker-only and capped at £750,000 loan size, but industry analysts see the launch as another step toward normalising credit access for internationally-mobile professionals. It reflects a broader trend of lenders tailoring offers to digital nomads, skilled migrants and returning expats—segments that were largely overlooked before the post-pandemic labour crunch.
Key highlights include a two-year fixed-rate at 4.90 % for borrowers with 80 % loan-to-value (LTV) and a five-year buy-to-let product at 5.15 % for British expatriates and foreign nationals. Importantly, the lender will accept overseas income verified through UK bank transfers, easing friction for assignees paid partly in sterling and partly in local currency. (moneyage.co.uk)
For HR and mobility managers navigating these changes, VisaHQ’s dedicated UK portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) offers step-by-step guidance and document-checking services for Skilled Worker visas and extensions, ensuring employees meet the 12-month validity window lenders like Dudley now require.
Why does this matter for global mobility teams? Until recently, assignees often struggled to secure mainstream credit because many banks treated temporary work visas as ‘high risk’. By pricing Skilled Worker borrowers on the same grid as permanent-residence applicants, Dudley signals growing confidence in the stability of the UK’s sponsored-worker route. The products could also make the UK a more attractive destination for talent by lowering housing-cost barriers, especially outside London where 80 % LTV loans are common.
Employers should update their relocation packs: staff will need at least 12 months’ visa validity remaining at completion and a UK bank account receiving salary. Dudley will also require proof of continuous employment with a licensed sponsor and evidence that the worker intends to apply for extensions when due. Brokers expect rival building societies to follow suit, increasing competition in a niche worth an estimated £3 billion a year.
For now, the products are broker-only and capped at £750,000 loan size, but industry analysts see the launch as another step toward normalising credit access for internationally-mobile professionals. It reflects a broader trend of lenders tailoring offers to digital nomads, skilled migrants and returning expats—segments that were largely overlooked before the post-pandemic labour crunch.
